Local News

A man has pleaded guilty to committing federal drug crimes in Taylor County and could spend as much as 80 years in prison and be ordered to pay a $4 million fine.

Jose Dejesus Cortez Contreras aka Donaciano Cortez-Cervantes, 41, a Mexican National, entered a guilty plea last Wednesday before U.S. District Judge Thomas B. Russell for his role in a conspiracy to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine, according to a new release from U.S. Attorney Candace G. Hill's office in the Western District of Kentucky.

He loved to operate bulldozers, and was, according to one of the many who knew him, an "old gentleman" and a "good friend."

A Campbellsville man is dead and another injured after a two-vehicle crash this past Saturday on KY 55.

Tommy Lee Smothers, 80, of 100 John Minor Lane was pronounced dead at the University of Louisville Hospital just hours after his vehicle had been struck by another driven by Robert Barnes, 26, of 200 Winners Circle in Columbia.

According to Vaughn's arrest citation, she is accused of forging a prescription for a controlled substance three times at Kroger on KY 210. The doctor listed on the prescription, court records state, told police that she did not sign them.

The citation states that Vaughn wrote a statement for police confessing to the crime.

Taylor County sheriff's deputies are investigating a home robbery on Lakeway Avenue last Friday.

According to a Taylor County Sheriff's Office report, deputies responded to a report of the robbery at about 11:30 p.m. The report states that three men, one of whom was armed with a handgun and carrying a baseball bat, entered a garage at 41 Lakeway Ave. The report states that the men tied up three people at the home and then stole several items.

Now that the both the Democratic and Republican candidates for the vacant 14th District Senate position have been chosen and a special election set for Dec. 8, the Central Kentucky News-Journal wants to help readers learn all they can in order to make an informed decision about who they believe will best represent them.

To that end, the CKNJ will team up with The Lebanon Enterprise, The Springfield Sun and The Kentucky Standard to bring you a candidate forum featuring both Republican Jimmy Higdon and Democrat Jodie Haydon.

Cooler temperatures have sent many people to their closets in search of warmer shirts, jackets and pants. Those looking to buy new clothing this year, however, might search for it in a different place, one where they can stretch their dollars and get more for their money.

Several local consignment shop owners say they expect to see an increase in their sales this upcoming winter season.

With the money still coming, the annual Hosparus Charity Tea and Auction raised more than $7,000 Sunday.

Taking place at Campbellsville University's Student Activities Center, the event attracted a crowd of about 150 people, who were waited on by "celebrity servers" such as Campbellsville Mayor Brenda Allen, Otto Tennant, Campbellsville University's vice president for finance and administration, and local businessman Will Patton.

During the event, various items were auctioned, including cakes, golf clubs, quilts and books.